Dummy's guide to buying electric guitars?

**jim.cox** · 8th March 2012, 20:18

Well off topic, but I know there are a few guitar players here...

My boy Josh (11 yrs) is looking for an electric guitar. He's been playing acoustic for a while now, and wants to step up.

Being a fumble fingered wind player I know next to nothing about stringed instruments and was wondering what advice you guys could give re choice of a first electric.

Any hints or tips can would be gratefully received

Thankx

Jim

**TrentNz** · 8th March 2012, 20:28

Originally Posted by jim.cox

Well off topic, but I know there are a few guitar players here...

My boy Josh (11 yrs) is looking for an electric guitar. He's been playing acoustic for a while now, and wants to step up.

Being a fumble fingered wind player I know next to nothing about stringed instruments and was wondering what advice you guys could give re choice of a first electric.

Any hints or tips can would be gratefully received

Thankx

Jim

Get one of these, cant go wrong > fender stratocaster

**Hitcher** · 8th March 2012, 20:29

Get yourself and son along to a good music store and have a thrash with their demos. There is a huge variety of electric guitar types, styles and prices. Ultimately a choice should be based on personal preference, heavily tempered by the thickness of a wallet. Just like buying a bike!

Remember that like bikes, cheap is as cheap does.

**Usarka** · 8th March 2012, 20:31

Buy one that he likes the look and sound of.

If it looks good you're more likely to pick it up and play it!

**HenryDorsetCase** · 8th March 2012, 22:28

Les Paul gold top.

or a Gretsch White Falcon

**jim.cox** · 9th March 2012, 06:01

Thankx guys, thats all good words

I'm well aware of the "poor instrument trap" and am trying to avoid it.

Been thinking sticking with the known brands - so a Fender Mexico may well be the go - (although as a sax player I know to avoid Conn's made there). On that line are Cort guitars any good?

Anyway I'll let you know how we get on

**The Singing Chef** · 9th March 2012, 08:17

Are you looking for a whole package? or are you going to buy the Amp and guitar separately?
They often have "learner" packs which include everything you need to start on an electric though the quality is pretty average. My first guitar was a Fender Squier which wasn't a bad guitar but you just don't get the same sounds/tone/harmonics etc... than you would if you had a more expensive guitar. They are cheap mind you. If he is just starting out don't worry about the best equipment out because if you can play, then you can play and you can play anything.

Though I would say stick with well known brands because quality can diminish with other brands, so have a look at the guitars there and the music man will sort you out.

**Drunken Monkey** · 9th March 2012, 17:35

To be fair, a lot of the cheap chinese stuff is not that bad. Although I wouldn't take one on stage, a learner won't be able to tell. The cheap versions of well known brands have their drawbacks (i.e. entry level fender strat or epiphone les paul), but they play well, look good and sound fine. Even amps are improving, and that's probably going to be the real sticking point.

Cheap ass guitar + awesome amp = actually an ok combination

Awesome guitar + cheap ass amp = will sound shit, guaranteed

What's your budget?

Edit: Mex Fenders will still set you back a grand. They're cheap alternatives for semi-serious musos, but you'd have to be a learner with deep pockets to splash out on one of those. I actually use a mexi fat strat, it plays really well (well enough for gigs), they just need a few tweaks.

Squires are good first electrics.

**pzkpfw** · 9th March 2012, 20:10

Is "Outside" anywhere near Wellington?

**Fatt Max** · 9th March 2012, 20:49

Have a look at the Squire range. They are basically Fenders but assembled outside of the USA

The beauty of these guitars is that they are relatively cheap but look,play and sound like a regular Fender. Basically they hold their value so if your son gets bored you can still get some decent $$$'s for it. However, if he sticks with it he will have a great quality guitar that will last for years.

Keep away from the Asian 'dodgy' brand guitars. They may look cool but the hardware like tuning heads are usually crap, the necks warp out, the bridge falls apart and the electric components are substandard. This can be frustrating when trying to learn.

Amp wise, well, thats a whole new ball game. Start off with a cheapy just so he can get some sound. My first amp was the folks trusty 'Music Centre', I plugged myself into the tape deck and away I went.

Moving on, you cant beat the Roland Cube range of amps. I use a 30w Cube for live work, small, compact and light but with a great sound.

I've been playing for 35 years or so and been through a heap of gear in that time, In my opinion I reckon a Squire / Roland combo will see the young fella right for years to come....

....roll on 18, parties at his place sharing a spa pool with a bunch of cheerleaders.....thats rick n roll dude.....

**Indiana_Jones** · 9th March 2012, 20:52

Originally Posted by Drunken Monkey

The cheap versions of well known brands have their drawbacks (i.e. entry level fender strat or epiphone les paul), but they play well, look good and sound fine.

I have an Epiphone Les Paul (I only started playing/learning a year ago) and it's great for my needs.

As DM said, not stage quality but perfect for the learner.

-Indy

**ellipsis** · 9th March 2012, 23:41

...it's a bit of a catch 22 with this kind of dilemma..every budding young axe man should have a strat....it would be lovely to be able to play in that world...has a certain kind of ring to lots of, 'I've got my Licence, should I get a Thou/Now', type of thread, right here on KB...I've been struggling to be a fairly competent bass player for 40 years, have a real cool custom bass and still reckon that I had as much fun on old shitboxes of guitars over the years...if the boy wants to play, he will find his way...lots of good older stuff out there...your local muso shop will only sell you what they think you want, but they can be helpfull too...

**Big Dave** · 9th March 2012, 23:41

The Monkey nailed it.

**The Lone Rider** · 10th March 2012, 08:54

I am a guitarist of more than 20 years.

1. Demo several guitars using the same amp.
2. When you find a guitar you think you like, try it on another amp.
3. Key things to look for in a quality guitar, especially for a learner, is one that

Holds it's tune (machine heads don't slip, saddles don't fall)
Intonation is consistent. You can test this by bringing a digital guitar tuner, and play open string and then the octave, then 1st fret & octave etc)
Pickups are not noisey. Also, you don't need active pickups if you're not gigging
No bowing in the neck of the guitar
Consistent fret wire height
And finially, check all the hardware on the saddles fully work and are adjustable

For a learner, you probably also won't need a guitar with a trem bar/moving bridge. On cheap guitars they tend to slip anyway, and put the guitar out of tune.

Double locking tuning (or whatever its called) is handy but will be annoying for a beginner.

To date, I've owned a Lotus Strat, Ibanez AX7, Squier Jagmaster, Yamaha XM, some sort of Samick, a bunch of others, and a modified Fender Strat. All are good except the Samick, and the pickups on the XM and Lotus.

Anything you need to know about amps?

**jim.cox** · 10th March 2012, 15:10

Just got back from the local rockshop

Josh tried a number of guitars - from low end Aria to real Gibson's

We have found a Dean Deciever that looks good - but by the time we include an amp its right at the top of our price range.

We also found a Sterling AX40 that we really like the look and sound of - but its almost twice the price - so would be a real stretch financially.

Right now we are just sitting & considering...